title: The Putzig-NURF nucleosome remodeling complex is required for ecdysone receptor signaling and innate immunity in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Putzig (Pzg) was originally identified as being an integral component of the TRF2/DREF complex in Drosophila melanogaster, thereby regulating the transcriptional activation of replication-related genes. In a DREF-independent manner, Pzg was shown to mediate Notch target gene activation. This function of Pzg entails an association with the nucleosome remodeling factor complex NURF, which directly binds the ecdysone receptor EcR and coregulates targets of the EcR via the NURF-specific subunit Nurf-301. In contrast, Nurf-301 acts as a negative regulator of JAK/STAT signaling. Here, we provide evidence to show that Pzg is fundamental for these functions of NURF, apart from the regulation of Notch signaling activity. A jump-out mutagenesis provided us with a pzg null mutant displaying early larval lethality, defects in growth, and molting accompanied by aberrant feeding behavior. We show that Pzg is associated with EcR in vivo and required for the transcriptional induction of EcR target genes, whereas reduced ecdysteroid levels imply a NURF-independent function of Pzg. Moreover, pzg interferes with JAK/STAT-signaling activity by acting as a corepressor of Ken. Lamellocyte differentiation was consistently affected in a JAK/STAT mutant background and the expression level of defense response genes was elevated in pzg mutants, leading to the formation of melanotic tumors. Our results suggest that Pzg acts as an important partner of NURF in the regulation of EcR and JAK/STAT signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kugler
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wallkamm
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Anja C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nagel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C508384:Ken protein, Drosophila; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D009707:Nucleosomes; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; C055469:ecdysone receptor; C524392:pzg protein, Drosophila; D053612:Janus Kinases